Hey there, so i just got up and i am reading the blogs i posted yesterday ...tons of spelling mistakes LOL! But i am also thinking there are so many things that i failed to mention... mainly names of most of the teammates i am still in touch with and i hope are all reading this with a smile :)
Everyone has to understand that without certain people in certain places there would be no hockey! Like in Malta hockey has pretty much died ....well there is a small resurgence as somebody has built an ice rink there with that synthetic ice. From what i hear it is crap and not very accessible but hey at least someone is trying . When i went to Dubai with the Pirates Coach Jan was very instrumental in keeping the game alive even without a rink....guys like Marcus, Kenny,Alex, Rodney, Simon all that live in Malta and so keen to play were even playing street hockey in a parking garage to stay in shape! i really have to mention that all the cool stuff we did in Dubai was totally paid for by our gracious coach Jan , and when we were back in Malta i will never forget the lovely dinner i enjoyed at his amazing condo ....thanks coach !
Also everyone has to understand that i am not the only one doing this ( travelling to play hockey ). These tournament are full of faces that i seem to see everywhere on certain continents . I met a fellow named Marko Nykanen sitting in the stands in Dubai , had a nice chat and he gave me his card. I like to make friends and tend to try to at least stay in touch ( if i like you ) so i tried to contact his email some time after meeting him and carrying his buisness card in my wallet . His email did not work , so obviously i thought eh i will never see this guy , oh well. So when i get to Singapore who do i see ...Marko Nykanen, i mean this guy is everywhere LOL. it is not just him there are so many faces i see at these tournaments, it is like an extended family /group of international buddies all sharing the love of the same game / and drinking copious amounts of alcohol :)
The other thing i would love to mention about all my experiences is the hospitality ! UNBELIEVABLE ! i don't want to get too far into it , but now that i am on the topic it is just fair to say that every team that has ever invited me to their countries to play has ALWAYS taken care of me beyone my expectations and i will always and forever be in debt to all of my hosts . There are so many tournaments on my list of places to go : mainly to be with people i have met before in different countries (its always an adventure when you are with 10-15 more crazed hockey players)
If anyone is ever interested in joining me overseas (from Toronto) let me know ....at the moment i am flying out to Europe for 3 tournaments in 3 countries in 3 weeks ! but i have open invite to a 30+ tournament in Hawaii playing for a German team from Augsburg ....it is in April.
http://www.icepalacehawaii.com/hockey/tournaments
check it out .....Happy Friday the 13th !
So cool Adrian!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Adrian;
ReplyDeleteDid the same thing last year when I took a break from work - 6 countries in 3 days. No better way to see the world than with your hockey gear. My major accomplishment was not paying an extra cost for overweight bags - that includes all my goalie gear and sticks! You are right on with the hospitality comments as well! Have fun - gg
Hey Goaliegray,
ReplyDeleteI always travel with Air Canada or Lufthansa and have never paid overweight for my goalie gear, only once i paid flying with Swiss Air :(
SJ, thanks for the support !